Paving the way to tomorrow’s energy

Wattway news

A global event: the Intelligent Transport Systems ITS World Congress in Montreal

From October 29 to November 2, Wattway is participating in the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress alongside Colas Canada. The purpose of ITS is to understand and improve overall mobility (infrastructures, communication panels, energy systems, communication networks, etc.) and to promote new applications. The event is an opportunity for Wattway to be seen as a cutting edge innovation in the field of transport to make the roads of tomorrow safer and smarter.

Wattway wins First Prize in Territorial Innovation 2017 from the e5t Foundation.

The e5t foundation, specialized in Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Savings and Territories, awarded the Wattway innovation on August 30th at its Summer University in La Rochelle. The e5t foundation formed a dedicated think tank of experts to provide concrete proposals for energy transition and territories, with the aim to enhance and support the initiatives of cities, regions, businesses and citizens who are fighting locally against global warming.

To read all the previous news about the Wattway solar road, click on the followinglink !

Wattway and other Bouygues Group Innovations at the 2017 Viva Technology Fair

ASTANA Expo 2017 – Future Energy

The first kilometer of Wattway Solar Road in Normandy

First ever US Wattway solar road installed in Georgia

The concept

As the energy transition becomes reality, imagine a road able to harvest solar energy and produce energy locally.

The world’s 1st ever photovoltaic road surface
Wattway is a patented French innovation that is the fruit of 5 years of research undertaken by Colas, world leader in transport infrastructure, and the INES (French National Institute for Solar Energy). By combining road construction and photovoltaic techniques, Wattway pavement provides clean, renewable energy in the form of electricity, while allowing for all types of traffic.

A new vision for roads
Wattway produces electrical energy without overtaking farmland or natural landscapes, and contributes to increasing the share of photovoltaic electricity in the energy mix, both in France and worldwide.

X2

By the year 2050, global energy needs will have doubled.

10%

Roads are only occupied by vehicles 10% of the time.

20m²

20 m² of Wattway panels can supply the electricity requirements of a single home.

The advantages

ENERGY
PERFORMANCE

Pavement is only occupied by vehicles some 10% of the time. Imagine the solar resources of this surface area, facing the sky.
20 m² of Wattway panels provides enough electricity to power a single home. (Source ADEME/CEREN 2014 – average French household for 1,000 sun hours/year – not including heating).

GRIP
AND RESISTANCE

How to reconcile the fragility of photovoltaic cells and the robust structure of a road? Wattway is composed of cells inserted in superposed layers that ensure resistance and tire grip. The composite material is just a few millimeters thick, making it possible to adapt to thermal dilation in the pavement, as well as vehicle loads, a guarantee of durability and safety.

INSTALLED DIRECTLY
ON EXISTING PAVEMENT

If Wattway is so revolutionary, it’s also because of the way it is installed! No need to rip out the existing structure, Wattway can be applied directly on the current pavement, without any need for civil engineering work.

Its applications

A one-kilometer stretch of road paved with Wattway can provide the electricity to power public lighting in a city of 5,000 inhabitants.[Source ADEME]

Towns and cities

In urban areas, the need for electricity is growing. How to produce and how to transport the energy we need? These are some of the most important environmental issues of our times. With Wattway, electricity can be produced and used locally. Wattway fits perfectly into the smartgrids* model that will be used to design the cities of tomorrow.

Isolated, off-grid areas

In some remote areas, it is sometimes difficult and costly to supply the infrastructures and villages with electricity. Without having to undertake any major construction work, Wattway provides developing countries with a new, durable solution for short circuit renewable energy.

The Colas Group

The Colas Group is a world leader in the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure.
Striving to meet the challenges posed by mobility, urban development and environmental issues, Colas has built a reputation since it was founded in 1929 as an innovative, responsible Group.

After years of research in a partnership with the INES, Colas is now able to combine its expertise in roads with that of photovoltaic technology, paving the way to Wattway, the world’s first photovoltaic road surface.

Colas, official partner of COP 21

Colas wins a Climate Solutions Award for the Wattway Solar Road

As part of the COP21 United Nations Conference on Climate Change, Colas has won a Climate Solutions Award for the Wattway Solar Road. The selection jury, whose members include experts in resources and climate matters, has honored Colas with a Favorite Award in the Mitigation – Large Enterprise category.

Organized by Ademe, C3D, le Crédit Coopératif, Orée, Solutions COP21, The Shift Project and World Efficiency, the Climate Solution Awards are given out to highlight the best solutions for alleviating and/or adapting to climate change.

What's up with Wattway

AMOTIA 9th annual conference – Savannah
September 18-20, 2017

26th French National Meeting of public transportation – Marseille
October 10-12, 2017

ITS World Congress – Montreal
29th October – 2nd November 2017

French Mayors Fair – Paris
21st-23rd November 2017

How can Wattway help you?

Be the first to pave a solar road

Local officials, you can transform your public space
to build the towns of tomorrow.Private companies, you can produce clean energy
on your traffic lanes and parking lots.

Together, let’s build the future…

Help innovate in the energy sector and in urban development.
Get on board to the future!

Contact us now.
Together, we can imagine how Wattway can work for you!

Europe: + 33 1 77 45 20 53
USA: + 1 (855) 821-0030

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